Prestige 750

Putting the master stateroom on the main deck level gives the Prestige 750 an abundance of space and several other bonuses

By Dag Pike

LIFE PLAYS SOME FUNNY TRICKS and when I travelled from Britain to Trieste in the northeast corner of Italy in the winter, I was sure that I would find some lively conditions for a significant sea trial of the Prestige 750. I did not expect the mirror-calm sea that was such a contrast to the storm-lashed coasts of Britain. The calm was disappointing, and although it did not stop me appreciating the qualities of this superb new design from Jeanneau, I would have loved to put it through its paces in a more demanding way.

The Prestige name is quite new still in the motor cruiser market, but it is starting to have a major impact that will be felt strongly by its competitors with the introduction of the Prestige 750. This flagship design means that Prestige is vying with its major competitors in one of the most challenging sectors of the market. The 750 competes in terms of quality, engineering and style – as well as price.

Right from the start, the ambition of the Prestige 750 designers was to have the master stateroom at main deck level, something not seen before in a 75 footer. They have more or less achieved this because while there are four steps from the saloon to the master, the master suite is high enough in the hull to allow significant design changes and this has produced several bonuses.

Located under the forward coachroof there are no compromises in the size and quality of the master suite. It has a massive eight feet (2.44 metres) of headroom; it has windows that allow you to watch the world go by while lying in bed. The suite incorporates a walk-in dressing room and a beautiful bathroom with a very large shower cubicle. The generous headroom does create one issue: you cannot reach the skylight hatches over the bed to open/close them unless you stand on a chair.

Having the forward master raised in this way has allowed the hull designers to make the forward section of the hull considerably finer than normal because they now lie well below accommodation level. This should significantly improve the performance in waves –one of the main reasons that the flat calm with no challenging waves frustrated me. This fine entry combined with a dead rise on the deep V hull of a ride-cushioning 14 degrees should ensure a comfortable ride even in adverse conditions.

Going back to the accommodation, the VIP cabin has been located amidships in the position that would normally be occupied by the master. The VIP is nearly up to the same quality as the master cabin and although it lacks the views it has a large walk-in closet and generous bathroom on its starboard side. Forward of this there are two twin cabins, with their forward ends tucked under the master cabin in an innovative use of internal hull space. The port twin has an en-suite bathroom that is shared by the other twin cabin giving a total of eight berths, which could be a bonus if the yacht is used for charter work.

Completing the layout below decks is the well-engineered engine room that is accessed via a transom door and the two-berth crew cabin located against the transom. The generous amount of accommodation fitted into the hull is helped by not having a tender garage aft. A tender can be carried on the hi-lo swim platform or up on the rear of the flybridge where an optional crane can be installed.

To read all of this article pick up a copy of the 2014 Mar/Apr issue of Asia-Pacific Boating magazine, or buy it online from www.magzter.com